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The South African Communist Party says criminal charges should be lodged against those complicit in the abuse of the country's state intelligence services.

A “High Level Review Panel Report on the State Security Agency”, released by President Ramaphosa on Saturday detailS “serious breaches of the Constitution, policy, law, regulations and directives” by former President Jacob Zuma during his nearly nine years in office.

A panel set up by Ramaphosa, found the SSA was appropriated and used to wage factional political battles in the African National Congress (ANC) under Zuma’s presidency.It also describes how the SSA became a “cash cow” for many, both inside and outside the agency.

SACP Spokesperson Alex Mashilo says the report provides direction as to who should be charged.

We made a principled call that all of those complicit in the politiciasation and abuse of our state intelligence, as well as those who participated in mismanaging and looting funds, must be held to account. This should include criminal charges as to the highest level possible.

— Alex Mashilo, Spokesperson - SACP

Former State Security ministers Siyabonga Cwele and David Mahlobo, as well as the agency's former head of special operations Thulani Dlomo, have been implicated.

Mashilo insists that every person named in the report be held accountable.

The report makes specific recommendations firstly about disciplinary action that must be taken, criminal charges must be set and it is very clear on what grounds.

— Alex Mashilo, Spokesperson - SACP

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Meanwhile, news reports suggest that the State Security Agency, under Zuma's tenure, subjected a number of private individuals to unlawful surveillance, including Nicole Fritz, the executive officer of Freedom Under Law.

A former SSA insider submitted an affidavit which names more than three dozen high profile figures. Some of the other names are chief justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, former finance minister Pravin Gordhan, AngloGold chairman Sipho Pityana and former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela.

Responding to this, Fritz says she is disturbed by the claim but it is not hugely surprising.

It is not hugely surprising in that Freedom Under Law's work is often litigated against the state and I supposed that there are those who are opposed the work that it does.

— Nicole Fritz, Executive officer - Freedom Under Law

It is not as if we are engaged in any action that is against the state, we are there to hold the state to account to its constitutional obligations. We are not engaged in any secretive or underhanded activities, it is all above board. You have to ask why they would be engaged in this type of activity in respect to an individual such as myself.